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More than 1,000 Roman Catholic clergy have signed a letter saying that same-sex marriage could threaten religious freedom in the same way as “centuries of persecution” of their church in England.

In the letter, the clerics say they fear that their freedom to practise and speak about their faith will be “severely” restricted by the Equal Marriage Bill, due this month. They urge MPs not to approve it.

The 1,054 priests, almost a quarter of the total in England and Wales, say that the plans, when combined with equality laws, could prevent Catholics working in the public sector from speaking